HIST19031  Australian Foreign Relations

This course examines the development of Australia’s foreign policy and Australia’s relations with other nations from Responsible Government to the present. After reflecting on the various approaches to the study of international affairs, and the domestic context, the course considers the imperial relationship and the emergence of nascent foreign policies among the Australasian British colonies. In the context of domestic politics, trade and immigration policy, the course then examines the history of Australia’s diplomatic relations, especially in the Asia Pacific region. The focus is on changing relationships with Britain, the USA, Japan, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands. The course concludes with a critical and historically informed analysis of Australia’s current foreign policy positions.